Fiona McEachern Sport Development Funding

The APF Sport Development Fund is named in honour of the late Fiona McEachern. We lost Fi in 2010, but she’ll always be remembered as one of the APF’s most talented and passionate ambassadors for skydiving. Fiona's career spanned 27 years and more than 7,500 jumps, including 13 years as APF Director of Competitions.

Fi was a founding committee member and driving force behind the Sport Development Fund. She was a mentor and motivator, who believed that a structured APF funding program should support worthwhile skydiving initiatives.

About the Fiona McEachern Sport Development Funding Scheme

The APF wants you to be the best you can!

*Here is some ESSENTIAL reading before lodging your application, please

(If your application is inappropriate, or non specific about the portion of your event that you're seeking funding for, it may be rejected. It's important that you understand and respect our guidelines)

In addition to its funding arrangements for National teams, the APF makes “Fi Fund” sponsorship available for a broad range of other skydiving events, projects and individuals. We’re especially keen to support grass roots members running grass roots events.

Applications are open from August 1 for events/projects in the following calendar year.

The availability of funding depends on budgetary limits, which vary from year to year.

Applications for L1 and L2 remain open until the funding for that year has been exhausted.

Please apply to your State Coach / Area Council before seeking any of these grants. Most councils have money set aside for encouraging local level development of the sport, either through special allocations or through the State Coach.

The APF may attach conditions to grants. In some cases, the funding may be paid after the event/project to ensure all conditions are met.

Essential Criteria for all levels of funding:

Applicants must be financial members of the APF, owing no debt to the Federation.

Applicants must supply proof of their funding request to their State Coach / Area Council and details of the response.

Applicants must identify how their event/project will assist the APF’s safety objectives and strategic goals.

Applications will ONLY be accepted if completed on the APF online form.

Funding will not be granted for Nationals, State Championships or normal DZ activities.

Funding will not be granted for events that conflict with advertised dates for a Nationals competition or State Championships. (For rare exceptions, see our funding information page.)

Applicants for all levels of funding must sign a Code of Conduct agreement.

Applications are now open for 2018 events

L1/L2 Funding has been exhausted for 2017

Level 1 Funding

APF Members may apply for grants of up to $1,500 to support skydiving events/projects that BENEFIT the skydiving community, while supporting the APF's safety objectives and strategic goals. Applications must be received at least four weeks prior to the event/project. They will be assessed and decided by the National Development Officer and the National Coach.

Applications received less than 21 days prior to the date of the event will not be assessed.

Level 2 Funding

APF Members may apply for grants of up to $5,000 to support skydiving events/projects that have an identifiable NATIONAL BENEFIT for the skydiving community, while supporting the APF’s safety objectives and strategic goals. Where budgetary limits allow, the intention is to provide grants at a dollar for dollar rate to match support from State Councils. Applications must be received at least 7 weeks before the event/project. They will be assessed by the APF Funding Committee for determination by the National Coach and Management Committee.

Level 3 Funding

APF Members may apply for grants with no specified limit for skydiving events/projects with an identifiable NATIONAL BENEFIT to the skydiving community, good prospects of POSITIVE PUBLICITY and likely INTERNATIONAL INTEREST, while also supporting the APF’s safety objectives and strategic goals. These are the highest grants available via the Fiona McEachern Sport Development Fund and they are designed to support the elite level of our sport or the highest level of participation.

In addition to the criteria listed for all FMSDF funding, the applicants must:

Provide proof of their State Council’s financial support for the event/project.

Provide proof of efforts to secure funding from other sources, such as government grants, host DZ, and commercial sponsors.

Applications must be received by the APF Office at least 7 weeks before a scheduled APF Board Meeting. (Find dates here) They will be assessed by the APF Funding Committee, which will make a recommendation to the APF Board. The APF Board will consider an allocation as a special item for budget consideration.

Note: You cannot save as you go with our online process. You’ll probably find it easier to type out your application as a ‘Word’ document, and then transfer your answers across to the online application. This way, you’ll have everything ready to go, and you won’t lose your information if you have to start again. PLEASE CONTACT THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE.